Raywood' Texas, Liberty County. (original) (raw)

	Raywood's landmark TE Photo 9-04

History in a Pecan Shell

Originally settled in the 1830s, Raywood experienced the various adventures and misadventures of its neighboring southeast Texas communities until the 1890s when a man named Alex Miller introduced rice farming in 1890.

Raymond Harwood was the proprietor of the local rice mill and the town was named by combining his two names. Raywood was platted alongside the Texas and New Orleans Railroad in December 1893. A post office was granted in 1894. The population ranged from 100 to 125 until oil and gas was discovered in the mid-50s.

The late discovery occured when automated drilling methods had long been in place - so the "boom" only amounted to a doubling of the small population.

Today Raywood's most noticable landmark is the rice elevators.

Raywood Grain Elevator
Photo courtesy Janette Carrell

Raywood Chronicles

• Turtle Bayou Resolutions by Archie P. McDonald
  ( "All Things Historical" Column)
  "Turtle Bayou originates just west of Raywood in Liberty County and flows, eighteen miles away, into Lake Anahuac. Angry Texans camped near that bayou in June 1832, trying to figure out how to gain the release of William Barret Travis and Patrick Jack, who had been arrested in Anahuac by Mexican post commander Juan David Bradburn. ... " Read full article

Raywood, Texas Forum

• Subject: Raywood Grain Elevator
  [About the] comment that the photo of the rice dryers in Raywood, TX looked familiar, but are not in Raywood, perhaps in Devers, TX. I would like to submit a photo that I took of the rice dryers that are authentic, as I took the photo myself. Not sure of the year, but I can tell it was right before Christmas, as they always put a lighted Christmas tree on top of the dryer at that time. Growing up, we lived just south of the dryer and it was the biggest excitement at night for mother to look out the kitchen window and exclaim, "Oh, the Christmas Tree is up"! - Thank you! - Janette Carrell, Houston, TX (born and reared in Raywood, TX), May 26, 2016
• My family settled in Raywood generations ago.. and no one seems to know where this store is. Perhaps you had already reached the next town, Devers? The rice dryer with the office building looks familiar, but is not in Raywood. Again... maybe in Devers? Thanks. - Cheryl Donatto, January 20, 2005

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